Beautiful Cottage Next to a Magnificent Castle! Newly Renovated

• A dream vacation!

  A dream vacation!

  • Guest Seeing the World
  • Date of stay 05/24/13
  • Review Submitted 06/03/13
  Beynac-et-Cazenac was just fabulous! The home, the village, the experiences was more than we even hoped for. The owner's and manager were beyond helpful. We visited daily markets and enjoyed our meals at home in the lovely kitchen. Took in the incredible views and local sites. It was an experience of a lifetime. Incredibly relaxing.

  Recommended for: Families with young children, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

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• Words fail me -- this place is magic!

  Words fail me -- this place is magic!

  • Guest Luke
  • Date of stay 12/18/12
  • Review Submitted 12/27/12
  It's not just hyperbole to say that La Maisonnette, with all it's well-documented magnificence, also has an intangible quality to it that transcends description. Our stay here, over the Christmas holidays, was authentically life-altering. I can imagine that summers here are colorful and lively, but winter (and Christmas) at La Maisonette was an especially lovely experience for our family of four with young children. The villages were almost totally tourist-free, quiet, and intimate, and yet the views are just as spectacular, the weather was pleasantly agreeable, and we got to know more of the locals than we would have if the streets had been filled with summer sightseers. La Maisonette's location is peerless, and the cottage itself is beautifully appointed while feeling cozy and familiar. I checked out all the other VRBOs in Beynac, and I don't believe there is one to rival La Maisonnette for the complete package of comfort, style, location, views, and amenities. The owners were unfailingly helpful every step of the way. (When we got lost in nearby Sarlat on the drive here, I even called Ben in the US and he talked me through the back streets until we were on the right road again. That's service "above and beyond" the call of duty!) Highlights of our stay included visiting Font-de-Gaume (more impressive, we thought, than Lascaux) and having the cave completely to ourselves because it's low season, all the chateaux (of course), wandering the "old town" in Sarlat right before Christmas, walking along the Dordogne from Beynac to Fayrac and back, the antiques store in Beynac, the views... Some days we didn't even leave the cottage because we enjoyed the solitude and the wood fire. Actually, everything was a highlight. The only disappointment is having to leave. I'll be raving about La Maisonette to everyone I know, but frankly I also want to keep it a bit of a secret so we can come back whenever we want to and feel like it's "ours"!

  Recommended for: Families with young children, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

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• I didn't ever want to leave!

  I didn't ever want to leave!

  • Guest Leigh
  • Date of stay 10/19/12
  • Review Submitted 11/19/12
  Having travelled around France for the past few months, I can honestly say that our stay at Le Maisonnette was one of the highlights of the trip. I fell in love with this property and this village as soon as I arrived. The house itself is stunning and has been beautifully renovated with all of the "little details" taken care of from extremely comfortable beds, fluffy towels and a truly great shower, to an amazing kitchen which I loved, loved, loved cooking in. Visiting Beynac in mid-Spring was the perfect time also - Blue skies, sunshine, wonderful sunsets and limited amounts of tourists to compete with. I'm so pleased to have discovered and stayed at Le Maisonnette and would recommend it to anyone and everyone. Thank you Ben and Stephanie as your professional and friendly manner made organising our stay so easy and enjoyable. I didn't ever want to leave!

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

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• Heaven on Earth

  Heaven on Earth

  • Guest DV
  • Date of stay 09/28/12
  • Review Submitted 10/26/12
  My husband and I spent the most lovely week, the first week of October, at Ben and Stephanie's cottage in Beynac-et-Cazenac... The house is so beautifully renovated! They've maintained a perfect balance of old and new. The rustic character of the place is intact, but the kitchen and bathrooms are completely new, with high-end appliances and fixtures. They've thought of everything for their guests, even down to supplying a copy of the movie Chocolat for guests to view (the opening scene is filmed in Beynac. We had a really fun week, sight-seeing in the Beynac area. Favorites include the Sarlat market, a drive to the Lascaux caves, and a canoe ride down the Dordogne river. We will certainly recommend Ben and Stephanie's little corner of Heaven on Earth to all our friends and family.

  Recommended for: Families with young children, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, girls getaway, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

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• magical maisonette

  magical maisonette

  • Guest Sarah
  • Date of stay 08/31/12
  • Review Submitted 09/18/12
  My husband and I spent 10 days at La Maisonette to celebrate our 30th birthdays. It was the most magical holiday. The maisonette was beautiful and Beynac is the most gorgeous little town and made a perfect base for a stay in the Perigord. We loved the St Cyprien market and stocked up on veggies there and at the Sarlat market and were able to cook at home for a few nights of the week, which was great. We loved spending the late afternoons in the terraced garden, which gets full afternoon sun, drinking monbazillac and eating cheese and foie gras. We found a fabulous restaurant in Paunat, a 45 min drive away, called Chez Julian where we went for my birthday lunch. It's in the most idyllic spot right next to an ancient abbey. Our favourite attraction was the Jardins d’Erygnac, which absolutely deserve their 3 Michelin stars. Ben was very helpful and answered all my questions promptly before our trip. The orientation guide they give was so useful and had some great ideas for things to do and places to eat. The cottage is very well set up and we didn't want for anything. I would highly recommend staying here if you're planning a trip to this beautiful region in France.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

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• Wonderful Experience

  Wonderful Experience

  • Guest Connie
  • Date of stay 06/01/12
  • Review Submitted 07/15/12
  My husband and I have traveled in France many times and this was one of our best holidays. The Beynac area is beautiful in and of itself but it is also conveniently located to visit many interesting sites and wonderful restaurants. La Maisonette is charming, clean, has old world ambience with modern conveniences. It was a delight! Thank you Ben and Stephanie for a lovely stay.

  Recommended for: Families with young children, age 55+, romantic getaway, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

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• Exactly how it appears, and more

  Exactly how it appears, and more

  • Guest starrd
  • Date of stay 06/08/12
  • Review Submitted 07/10/12
  I searched quite long for a place that would have the charm of an old cottage while providing present day comforts. This home spoiled us. It was exactly the way you think it would be, perfectly up to date with everything functioning. No saggy beds, in fact, quite the opposite. My sister is an amateur chef and made amazing use of the kitchen. The owners and caretaker provide so much information and help, you feel very taken care of. Aside from all that, the cottage and its surrounds are as breathtaking as you can imagine. The castle itself fulfilled every dream I had. Its huge, massive spaces are clearly built for defense as well as living ...you can almost see horses riding through some of the spaces inside! Nothing frilly or useless about this like some later period castles. As you walk the cobbles leading from the castle and restaurants, past your door, down to the village, you cannot help but feel you are living in another time. The most remarkable thing about this area is that everyone is still living in all these 11th century buildings as if they have been handed down from family to family. The village of Sarlat was another joy...so close and what a dreamy place with its close together buildings and alleys from an ancient time. You cannot help but get a sense of the past when you are in this region. An absolute delight. This was my first VRBO rental -- I was a little nervous, but you can trust this one. Ben answered all my nervous questions patiently and refunded our deposit quickly. Absolutely worth the money and worth the convoluted drive to stay in a bit of history.

  Recommended for: Families with young children, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

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• Absolutely Gorgeous - Blew Our High Expectations Out of the Water

  Absolutely Gorgeous - Blew Our High Expectations Out of the Water

  • Guest Cristina & Jeff
  • Date of stay 01/13/12
  • Review Submitted 04/08/12
  My wife and I lived in France and Belgium for a couple of years, and we've been all over Western Europe. This was our first time in the Dordogne region, and now we definitely plan on returning. Stephanie and Ben have a Beautifully redone cottage, right next to an amazing castle. (You are literally a couple dozen feet away, with only a walkway and some grass between the home and castle.) The home is very charming with everything you could want or need. Each morning, we would look at each other and just say, "This is unreal. Absolutely incredible." There are breathtaking views from all over the village, our favorites being right as the fog burns off each morning. Not only are there a handful of castles within 20 minutes of the cottage, but there are prehistoric caves (with carvings & paintings) all over the region, fantastic restaurants, and a load of different activities. Ben & Stephanie provided a very comprehensive list of ideas and suggestions for what to do. As it was the middle of January, we felt like we had the entire region to ourselves! It was a perfect, romantic getaway. Without a doubt, we recommend this place to anybody, and we hope to get back soon!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• We Love La Maisonnette!

  We Love La Maisonnette!

  • Guest Team DeLuca
  • Date of stay 10/28/11
  • Review Submitted 11/16/11
  Wow! My husband and I stayed here for nine days in October/November 2011, and it was nothing short of spectacular. The booking process was very easy and the owners very professional, and coordinating with the property manager who is local was easy as well. We knew we were staying somewhere special from the photos online, but nothing can do this beautiful home justice. Located directly next to the Chateau Beynac, the home is wonderfully appointed with modern appliances and amenities but stays true to the original architecture of the home. We enjoyed cooking meals, playing many of the great games provided, watching DVDs from their collection, and having coffee by the fire. The town of Beynac-et-Cazenac is not to be forgotten, as it is truly something out of a fairytale. If you stay over a weekend, be sure to visit the market in Sarlat on Saturday. It's truly a gem. The fall is also a time not to be missed in this region - the weather was perfect! Thank you, Ben and Stephanie! What a treat to stay at La Maisonnette. We cannot wait to come back!

  Recommended for: Families with young children, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Late October Visitors

  Late October Visitors

  • Guest Jack
  • Date of stay 10/14/11
  • Review Submitted 11/05/11
  It's hard to choose what's most interesting: the "cottage," the town or the area. All are great...and visiting "off-season" gives you free rein to choose each day as the spirits move you. We brought two young grandkids (2 and 4), and while they bear constant watching (hard stairs and steep cliffs) Sir Samuel and Lady Jane were soon decked out in Medieval regalia having the time of their lives. Try Fall on the Dordogne: cool air, hot sun burning off the morning mist, no traffic/no waiting, magnificent sunsets as balloons drift by the patio, a roaring fire in the fireplace...

  Recommended for: Families with young children, romantic getaway, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

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We Typically rent Friday to Friday so our Guests can visit the fabulous Sarlat
Market and fill the fridge with farm-fresh goodness on Saturday morning.
Jan 4-Mar 15, 2013 .. € 650/week            
Mar 22-Apr 3, 2013 .. € 850/week 
June 7-June 14, 2013 ..€ 1495/week
July 26-Aug 9, 2013 .. € 1595/week   
Aug 30-Nov 1, 2013 .. € 1295/week     Nov 2, 2012 - All dates in 2014 upon request

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.